Russian writers of the turn of the century discussed the woman question with renewed urgency. The problem of woman's sexuality informed the discussion at all levels. As a consequence of earlier trends in the liberal reassessment of woman's role, the main focus remained on the issues of education and employment. Although the subject of women's political representation was now addressed in journalistic debate, it received little attention from writers of belles lettres. The few observations that were made followed the lines of Tolstoi's comment that ‘women's lack of rights has nothing to do with them not being allowed to vote or be judges’.

In the general discussion on how best to channel woman's specific qualities for her own benefit as well as for the greater good of society, writers also sought to create an emotive, ideal imagery of socially and politically committed womanhood. Among the positive portraits of revolutionaries, the classic example of the period is probably the title heroine of Gor′kii's Mat′ (1906–8; Mother, 1954), whose actions are rooted in a selfless, spiritual awakening motivated by her love for her son. Woman's promotion of her own separate interests was generally portrayed (largely by male writers) as at best misguided, at worst divisive.